We had a call from a member of the public about a pair of swans on a small pond and were concerned it was too small for them. Simon and Jaine attended to look at the pond and in their opinion also thought it too small, plus there was not much food supply for them.
The pond is next to a public house, manmade and surrounded by shrubs. Jaine spoke to a workman who was entering the building and asked if the owner of the pub was there, to which the builder replied ‘no’, so Jaine explained that we do wildlife rescues and had been referred to by a lady who contacted Brent Lodge.
She asked if the owner be told, and that we would return on Sunday with a swan expert who works with the Swan Sanctuary Shepperton, to look at the situation and possibly remove the swans and take them to a different more appropriate area for them.
On Sunday Simon, Jaine, Doug and Julie, our swan expert, returned and it was decided that it was best to remove them, however, the silt was deep and dangerous and while deciding what to do, the owner of the pub turned up, very hostile and threatening and after calming him down it was decided he wanted Brent Lodge involved.
It was apparent to everyone there that he felt the swans were an added attraction to his public house. So on this rescue, we await instructions from Emma at Brent Lodge as to what to do, we are happy to get a dinghy out to catch the swans and it is sad to see two swans in basically a goldfish pond when they could be enjoying Dell Quay Estuary with other numerous swans.
UPDATE: Emma has visited the site and feels swans are OK there at present but the issue is to be looked at if they nest and have young.